Listen to that engine purr

SANDY BAY’S Jen Rayner and her two children James and Olivia have had a catastrophe these school holidays.

The family lost their pet moggy Audrey last week and were beginning to fear the worst after she had been absent for four days.

“We last saw her Sunday night. We had the door open on the veranda because it was such a hot night and she slipped out on us,” Ms Rayner said.

The kids put up signs and doorknocked the neighbours. They drove around looking for the half ragdoll and half british short hair.

Yesterday, sorrow turned to joy when they discovered Audrey had taken a liking to hiding under the bonnet of their family Subaru XV.

“Judging by the fluff in the engine, we think she’s been in there the whole time,” said Ms Rayner.

“We’re wondering if she recognised the scent around the car and because we’ve had builders working at the house they may have spooked her from coming home.

“We were driving around the neighbourhood looking for and she was actually under our nose, the whole time.”

Dislodging her proved more difficult and required a helping hand from builders Andrew Patten and Matt Bakes.

“I went to drive away yesterday morning and one of them saw some fluff in the wheel hub. We slammed on the brakes and got under the car, but Audrey had moved into the chassis. One of the others builders quickly got the tyre off and we pulled her out.”